Alton Elective
The following projects, which are a mix of individual and duo projects, are the final product of the River City Redevelopment seminar at the Sam Fox School in the Fall of 2020. The course spent the first half of the semester studying river cities, shifting from a general focus on the relationship between rivers, cities, and redevelopment to the specific case of Alton, Illinois. For everyone in the class, including the instructor, we developed a deep understanding of the wealth of history, culture, community, and redevelopment potential – and how the Mississippi River relates to it – in Alton.
The following projects are meant to insert new and inspiring ideas into the conversation about Alton’s redevelopment and its relationship to the river. Students were charged with the task of developing ideas that capture the imagination yet are not so far fetched or impractical as to be easily dismissed as infeasible. The projects are meant to inspire a wider conversation about the future of Alton. As such, students were also required to communicate their ideas in a way that is intelligible and accessible to a wide audience and not just designers.
The charge was a challenging one, especially in a course done remotely. Some students did not have the opportunity to visit Alton in person. But between their hard work and the enormous help of numerous guests, the projects all have the potential to start productive and interesting conversations about the future of Alton. If you are interested in engaging with us on any of the projects, please contact Ian Trivers at itrives@wustl.edu. We look forward to your feedback.
We also want to thank our many guest speakers for all their insights and feedback. A special thanks goes to Penelope Schmidt, a tireless advocate for Alton who’s knowledge of and passion for the city infuses each and every one of this projects in some way.
